Vacuumizing and sealing container



Sept 3 w35 I H. A. BRNBY 2,3,548

VACUUMIZING AND SEALING CONTAINER Filed March 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 willig/11u" Sept. 3, 1935. H. A. BARNBY 2,013,548

VACUUMIZING AND SEALING CONTAINER v l Filed March 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l gn/vento@ Patented Sept. 3, 1935 .UNITED STATES VACUUMIZING AND SEALING CONTAINER Herbert A. Barnby, Toledo, Ohio,` assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application March 6, 1933, Serial No. 659,709

11 Claims.

, My invention relates to a method and apparatus for vacuumizing and' sealing bottles, jars or other containers within a vacuum chamber. It embodies certain modifications and improvements on vthe method and apparatus disclosed' and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 613,892, flied May 2'7, 1932, on which Patent No. 1,967,346 was granted July 24, 1934. In said patent Ihave shown a vacuum chamber in which are introduced the jars or other containers to be vacuumized, the caps for the containers being loosely placed 'in position on the containers. A sudden admission of atmospheric pressure within the vacuumized chamber serves to apply a sealing pressure to the caps. The amount of sealing pressure thus applied will evidently vary with the size of the mouth of the container. With wide mouth ware such as fruit jars and the like, the pressure may be ample to obtain an effective seal. With narrow neck bottles, for example, the sealing pressure is evidently much less and may not be sufiicient for effective and reliable operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means by whichthe amount of pressure applied to the individual container caps is determined and controlled independently of the size of the caps or of the openings which are sealed.

The invention further provides practical means l for obtaining and applying to each individual cap a greater sealing pressure than is obtainable by the application of the atmospheric vair'pressure directly to the caps. This increased sealing pressure-permits effective and reliable sealing of narrow neck ware and also wide mouth ware which does not have the exactness of nish required when the air pressure is applied directly to the caps.

More specifically, the present invention provides a baiile plate within the vacuum chamber adapted to seat on the caps of jars or containers and serving as a pressure plate to receive at-` mospheric pressure and apply it to said caps when air is admitted to the chamber containing the vacuumized containers.

An object of the invention is to provide such a baffle plate so constructed that it will permit a substantially uniform distribution of the air pressure to the sealing caps therebeneath regardless of slight variations in the heightfof the containers.

A further Aobject of the invention is to provide a novel and practical means for adjusting the clearance between the baiile plate and the surrounding walls of the chamber to thereby adjustably regulate the rate at which the atmospheric pressure applied to the upper surface of the plate is admitted to the body of the chamber beneath the plate, thereby adjustably regulating the amount of pressure applied to the sealing caps 5 and the length of time the pressure is maintained.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of van apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical .section of such apparatus taken at the line II-II on Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing one of the adjustable ends of the baille plate.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation at the line IV-IV on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section at the line V--V on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevatlonshowing part of the vacuum chamber and mechanism for loperating one of the doors. Referring to the drawings, a vacuum chamber I0, the walls of which may be made of alumnum or other suitable material, is preferably rectangular in form. The chamber is supported on a framework which includes angle bars or ribs I I extending upward along the sides of the chamber, and cross pieces I2 extending across the top of the chamber and uniting the ribs II. The ribs If and I2 may be cast integral with the chamber walls for giving strength and rigidity to the structure. End gates or doors I3 close the ends of the vacuum chamber.

The doors are lifted and lowered for opening and closing thechamber by the following mechanism; Each door is carried on a pair of levers I# and I5 on the front side of the chamber and a corresponding pair of levers on the opposite side of the chamber. The levers of each pair are substantially parallel when the door is in closed position. Each lever I4 is fulcrumed on a stud I6 formed in the side wall of the chamber, said lever including an arm I I extending upward from the fulcrum. The arm I1 is connected through a link I 8 to a counterbalancing coil spring I9, the latter being attached atits lower end to a screw bolt 20 anchored to a plate 2l 'at the bottom of the chamber. A nut 22 permits adjustment of the bolt for adjusting the tension of the spring. The lever I5 yis pivoted at 23 to a stud on the chamber wall,` and includes an arm 24 connected through a link 25 to a hand lever 26. The hand lever is fixed to a pivot shaft 21 mounted in brackets 28 at the upper corners of the vacuum chamber. Counterbalancing springs I9 are pref- 2 erably provided in connection with each of the levers I4 on both sides of the chamber.

'I'he link'and lever mechanisms are identical for the two doors, except that they are right and left handed. It will be evident that when the hand lever 26 is moved downward the two doors will be moved upward simultaneously to the broken line position as shown in Figure 1. The tension of the springs I 9 may be adjusted to substantially counterbalance the weight of the doors, so that little effort is required in lifting or lowering the doors. The arrangement of the parts is such that the doors are substantially counterbalanced in all positions.

When the vacuum chamber is closed the air isl exhausted therefrom `by means of a vacuum pump (not shown) which withdraws the air from the chamber through an exhaust pipe 3|) extending from the pump to the vacuum chamber and opening into said chamber through the vupper wall thereof and preferably substantially at the center of said wall. A valve 3I in the vacuum line is operated by a hand wheel 32 and may be used as a throttle valve or for shutting oil the pipe 3U from the vacuum chamber.

Jars or other containers 35 which may be filled with food products or other material which it ls desired to Vacuumize and seal within the container, are loaded on trays 38 before being introduced into the vacuum chamber. The trays are carried to and from the chamber on horizontal conveyors 3'I extending from opposite ends of the chamber. As shown, a number of trays 36, each filled with jars 35, are placed one on top of another, all of the trays being then moved into the vacuum chamber. The receptacles 354 as herein shown are glass jars of usual construction provided with closures or caps 38. A sealing gasket is interposed between each container and its cap, the latter being placed .loosely in position on the container before it is placed in the vacuurn chamber. This permits vacuumizing of the container, followed by sealing of the cap thereon when air pressure is applied, as hereinafter set forth.

The baille plate through which sealing pressure is applied to the vacuumized containers, and the mechanism for operating said plate, will now be described. This baille or pressure plate 40 which may be made of flexible sheet metal is located in the upper part of the vacuum chamber and is approximately the length and width of the chamber. The plate may be made of sheet metal and is sufficiently thin, flexible and elastic to permit it to accommodate itself to any slight variations in the top level of the closure caps on which it is seated during the sealing operation, as hereinafter described. If desired, the baille plate may be provided on its lower surface with a layer or covering of rubber, rubber composition or other suitable compressible, elastic material which will accommodate itself to any slight variations in the level of the closure caps and thus serve to equalize the distribution of pressure. This would permit the yuse of a more rigid baille plate. The bale plate 40, as shown, is formedwlth vertical depending ilange portions 4I along its side margins. These flanges serve as guides for the plate and also give it sufficient stiffness and strength to permit it to be lifted and lowered without impairing its eillciency.

As shown in Fig. 2, only a slight clearance is provided between the side margins of the baille plate and the opposite walls of the vacuum chamber, so that when air pressure is admitted above the plate and causes it to apply a sealing pressure to the container caps 38, the passage of air downward to the space beneaththe plate will be. restricted and retarded to such extent that pressure of sumcient intensity and for a sufllcient length of time to effect the desired sealing operation, will be maintained above the baille plate.

The baille plate 4D is automatically lifted whenthe doors I3 are lifted, and lowered when the doors are closed. For this purpose, operating connections are provided between said plate and the door operating levers I4 as follows: Each of two vertical rods 43 (see Figs. 4 and 5) has a connection at its lower end with the baille plate 40. 'I'his connection includes a disk 44 attached to the lower end of the rod, said disk being anchored beneath a holding plate 45 attached to the upper face of the baille plate by means of rivets 4B or other fastening devices. The opening in the plate 45 through which the rod 43 extends is large enough to provide clearance on all sides of the rod and thus permit any lateral movement of the baille plate which may be required to accommodate it to the surrounding walls of the vacuum chamber and to prevent binding of said plate. The rod 43 extends `upward through an opening in the top wall of the vacuum chamber and through a packing gland 41 by which air leakage is prevented. The upper end of each rod is attached to a cross bar 4B. The rods may be screw threaded and provided with nuts 48 thereon above and below the cross bars to permit vertical adjustment of the baffle plate relative to the cross bars.

Vertical guide rods 50 are secured at their upper ends to the cross bars 48 and extend downward through bearing brackets 5I which may be attached to the angle bars II. Links 52 are pivotally connected to the ends of the cross bars 48 and extend downward therefrom. The links are provided with longitudinal slots 53 which engage pins54 on the levers I4. This construction provides a lost motionconnection between the` levers I4 and the links, permitting the plate 40 to accommodate itself to the height of the containers on which it rests. i This connection is such that when the doors I3 are lifted by depressing the hand lever 26 the baille plate 40 is permitted to remain seated on the containers until the doors in their upward movement reach an intermediate `position determined by the level of the baille plate. The pins 54 which, during this movement, .slide freely in the slots 53, are thus brought to the upper end of the slots so that during the final movement of the doors to their open position, said links 52l are moved bodily upward, carrying with them the cross bars 48 and the baille plate 40, the latter being thereby lifted away from the containers 35. In Fig. 6 the door I3 is shown in broken lines in the position at which, during its upward movement, the lifting of the baille plate is commenced.

In order to adjustably regulate the rate at which the atmospheric air is permitted to pass below the baille plate during the sealing process, the plate is provided with adjustable extensions, preferably at the ends of the plate. These include adjusting strips or plates 55 which may be coincident in length with the width of the baille plate. These adjustment strips (see Fig. 3) lie against either the upper or lower face of the plate 40 and are held in position by spring clamping strips 56 attached to the baille plate. The vstrips 55 may be adjusted inward or outward to provide any desired amount of clearance between the plate and the end walls of the vacuum chamber. said strips being held in adjusted position by the yielding pressure of the clamps 55. A vacuum gauge 58 (Fig. 6) may be provided to indicate the degree of vacuum within the vacuum chamber.

The operation may be summarized as follows: While the operating lever 26 is in its lowered position and the doors I3 lifted, the trays 36 with the containers 35 thereon are moved into the vacuum chamber. The capsj38 are at this time seated loosely on the containers to permit the containers with their contents to be vacuumized. The lever 26 is now lifted, thereby lowering and closing the doors I3. During the lowering of the doors the baille plate d0 is also lowered so as to seat on the caps of the containers 35 in the uppermost tray. 'I'he-valve 32 is open and the air is exhausted from the vacuum chamber through the exhaust pipe 30. This serves to exhaust the air from the containers 35, the loose seating of the caps 38 has been drawn, atmospheric air is suddenly admitted to the pipev 30 by a quick opening of a valve 59 (Fig. 6). 'I'he air under atmospheric pressure passes through the pipe 30 and enters the vacuum chamber in the space above the baiile plate 40. This air pressure on the upper face of the plate 40 is distributed and transmitted to the caps 38. The pressure is suilicient to hold the caps down in sealing engagement with the respective containers.

The air admitted above the plate 40 passes downward through the restricted space provided between the margins of the baule plate and the adjoining walls of the vacuum chamber so that the pressure above and below said plate is quickly but not instantly equalized. The length of time the sealing pressure applied above the plate 40 remains effective can be adjusted and regulated by adjustment of the strips 55. The amount of pressure applied can be further regulated by controlling the rate at which air is admitted through the pipe 30 to the pressure chamber.

Owing to the flexibility of the plate 40, the sealing pressure is evenly distributed to the caps therebeneath even when there is a slight variation in the top level of the caps, which frequently occurs in practice. This sealing pressure is transmitted through the containers in the uppermost trayand through said tray to the containers therebeneath.

In this manner, all of the containers are sealed.

The trays may be provided with a facing of rubber or other compressible, elastic material, or may be made of sheet metal sufliciently thin and flexible to distribute the pressure in the same manner-as above noted in connection with the pressure plate I0.

Modications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a vacuum chamber, a pressure plate within said chamber separating it into upper and lower compartments, said plate adapted to apply a sealing pressure to receptacles within the chamber beneath said plate, means for admitting air under pressure to the compartment above said plate and thereby causing the latter to apply a Isealing pressure to said receptacles, said plate being sumciently flexible to .permit it to accommodate itself to inequalities in the height of the receptacles and thereby equalize the pressure transmitted to said receptacles, said plate having its margins in close proximity to the walls of the vacuum chamber to provide a restricted 'passageway from the upper to the lower of said compartments by which'air under pressure supplied to the upper compartment is gradually admitted to the lower compartment, and adjusting -means for adjustably varying the restriction to the passage of air between said compartments.

2. The combination of a vacuum chamber, a pressure plate therein separating said chamber into upper and lower compartments, means whereby said chamber-is vacuumzed, means for supplying air at atmospheric pressure to the upper compartment, said pressure plate being of such area relative to the horizontal area of the chamber as to pro- Vide a restricted passageway for the air from the upper to the lower compartment, and adjusting means to adj ustably vary the restriction and thereby vary the rate at which theair passes from the upper to the lower compartment 3. In a vacuumizing and sealing apparatus, the

combination of a vacuum chamber substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section, a horizontally disposed bailie plate therein consisting of flexible sheet material, said plate having vertically disposed marginal flange portions extending along the vertical side walls of the chamber and in close proximity thereto, said plate being approximately the length of the chamber, and means for adjustably varying the effective length of said plate.

4. In an apparatus for vacuumizing and sealing containers, the combination of a vacuum chamber substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section, a horizontally disposed sheet metal baiile plate within said chamber, said plate having approximately the horizontal dimensions of said chamber, the sideA margins of said plate extending vertically downward and reenforcing the plate, and an adjusting strip extending along one or both ends of said plate and adjustable lengthwise of the plate for adjusting the eiective length of the plate.

5. In a vacuumizing and sealing apparatus,-the

combination of a structure providing a vacuum chamber, a horizontally disposed baille plate within said chamber separating it into upper and lower compartments, a door for said chamber, an oper-` ating lever, oonnections between said lever and door for moving the latter to and from a closed position, and means by which said baiiie plate is f lifted and lowered with the opening and closing movements of said door.

6. In a vacuumizing and sealing apparatus, the l combination of a vacuum chamber, a horizontally disposed baille plate therein, a door for said chamber, anoperating lever, and operating connections interconnecting the baille plate, door, and lever,

said lever being operable through said connections' an inoperative position in which it is spaced above the containers, a door for said chamber, a lever, and operating connections between said lever and thedoor and said plate for opening and closing the door and for lifting said plate when the door is opened. 4

8. In a vacuumizing and sealing apparatus, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a horizontally disposed baille plate therein-movable upward from an operative position in which it rests on\co1 L- tainers within the chamber to be vacuumized,'to an inoperative position in which it is spaced above the containers, a door for said chamber, operating mechanism for opening and closing said door,

and -means for lifting the bale plate when the door is opened and lowering it when the door is closed, said means -including a lost motion connection between the baffle plate and said operating mechanism by which the lifting and lowering of nection with said plate, permitting lateral movmenty of the plate relative to said rods.

10. In a vacuumizng and sealing apparatus, the combination of a vacuum chamber, a horizontally disposed bailier platetherein, vertical rods having a loose connection with said plate, permitting universal lateral adjustment of the plate rel- `nected to said cross bars, guides for said rods mounted at the sides of said chamber, and means for lifting said cross bars and thereby lifting the bale plate.

11. In a vacuumizing and sealing apparatus, the

combination of a vacuum chamber, a horizontally disposed bailie plate therein, vertical rods having a loose connection with said plate, permitting universal lateral adjustment of the plate relative to said rods, the latter extending upward from said plate through openings in the upper wall in the chamber, cross bars connected to the upper ends of said rods, vertical guide rods connected to said cross bars, guides for said rods mounted at the sides of said chamber, doors forming the ends of said vacuum chamber, anl operating lever, operating connections between the lever and the doors for opening and closing the latter, and means providing lost motion connectionsbetween said cross bars and said operating connections, whereby the baiile plate is lifted during the opening movements of the doors and lowered during the closing movements ofthe doors.

HERBERT A. BARNBY. 

